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Wednesday, September 22, 2010

The Haunted by Jessica Verday

Rating:Characters: 16/20Plot: 17/20Originality: 18/20Writing: 17/20Recommendation: 17/20Overall: 85/100 or BSource: Publisher After a summer spent reclaiming her sanity and trying to forget the boy she fell in love with by the bridge where her best friend drowned - the boy who must not exist, cannot exist, because she knows that he is dead - Abbey returns to Sleepy Hollow, determined to leave the ghosts of her past behind. She throws herself into schoolwork, perfume-making and her friendship with Ben, her cute and funny lab partner, who just might be able to help her get over Caspian once and for all. But Abbey is never going to truly be able to move on from Caspian and Caspian has no choice but to return to her side: for Caspian is a Shade and Abbey is his destiny. The two are tied not only to each other, but also to the town of Sleepy Hollow and the famous legend that binds their fates - a legend whose true ending and dark truths they are only just beginning to guess...I found that Abbey to have matured a lot, since where we left her in The Hollow. Her store ideas are more developed and she seems to know what she wants more. Her kind nature and sweetness was easy to relate to. You learn more about Caspain. You also figure out why Abbey can see him and that was rather interesting. Also, new characters are introduced, but their part in the story is unknown. I found the story to be interesting after page 200. A lot of the questions from the last book are answered and others created more mystery. The ending left me wanting more. I found The Haunted to be very original. Veraday created a new world that seems like it could be developed. The scenery in the story felt so realistic and interesting to read. Verday's writing style has developed a lot, since The Hollow. I found that there was more depth in this story and that it was more interesting. I am sure that you will like The Haunted, if you like The Hollow.

And this is the problem I have with Verday's books. It was the same thing with The Hollow. You shouldn't have to read hundreds of pages before the story gets going! That was my biggest complaint about the first book, and you're not the only one who's mentioned that the second is much the same in this respect.

I'm glad to hear that some questions were answered, though. Thanks for the review!